Scotland midfielder Colin Cameron has been forced to withdraw from the squad ahead of the Euro 2004 play-off with Holland.
The Wolves player will miss Saturday's first leg at Hampden Park and the decider in Amsterdam four days later because of a groin problem. Manager Berti Vogts yesterday had declared he was hopeful that the former Hearts man would be able to take part having had a brief phone call with Wolves boss David Jones on Monday evening.
But when the player was checked out by the Scotland medics this was quickly found not to be the case. Scottish Football Association spokesman Andy Mitchell said: "He was fully assessed by the doctors last night and he will not be featuring in either match.
"He is travelling back to his club for further treatment because his groin injury is not going to have recovered in time for him to play."
No replacement for Cameron, who has been capped 23 times and would have been a certain starter, has been called up. Vogts still has 24 players at his disposal although centre-back Steven Pressley is receiving treatment for a groin injury.
Striker Stevie Crawford admitted the loss of Cameron was a blow. He said: "I think the wee man will be devastated. I have known him a long time, from our days at Raith, and to miss a match of this importance he will be gutted.
"Somebody of Colin's qualities will be a big loss. His runs into the box and awareness of certain situations will be sorely missed."
Cameron's withdrawal opens the door for Motherwell's Stephen Pearson, who was elevated from the Under-21s for the first time, to start on the left of midfield.
Another option would be to hand Darren Fletcher, the Manchester United teenager, his first start as a reward for coming off the bench and firing the only goal of the game in the final group match against Lithuania.